The Director-General Meets the President of Gabon

On 7 July, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, met with H.E. Ali Bongo Adimba, President of the Republic of Gabon, who assured her of his country’s support for UNESCO’s action.

After reiterating her thanks for Gabon’s symbolic contribution to the Emergency Assistance Fund, the Director-General referred to current cooperation activities, and said that she stood ready to dispatch an intersectoral mission to Gabon to identify new projects adapted to Gabon’s development prospects.

Referring to training for young people in preparation for their social and professional integration, the Director-General welcomed the decision taken by the Head of State to establish a fund of around $250 million to support programmes aiming to strengthen youth capacities in Africa, in particular in Central Africa. She also said that the Organization would be willing to provide technical assistance for the implementation of capacity-building projects for young people in Africa, one of UNESCO’s programme priorities.

Along with H.E. Ernest Walker Onewin, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Ms Bari, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Bokova visited the future premises of the United Nations agencies where the UNESCO Office would be housed, and whose official inauguration would take place soon.